This Pentecost, we recall the moment when the Holy Spirit descended like tongues of fire upon the apostles, giving birth to the Church and sending them forth as its first missionaries. What began in an upper room in Jerusalem now lives on in parishes, schools, and communities around the world.
This year, Pentecost takes on renewed meaning as hundreds of our teenagers, having completed years of catechism, will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. These young people are not merely finishing a religious course; they are saying “yes” to the gifts of the Holy Spirit and stepping into their role as full members of the Church. Their “yes” is not just a personal milestone—it is a sign of hope for the Church’s future.
At the same time, thousands of adults across the globe are also entering the Church. In France, a country often seen as secular, over 17,800 people were baptised this Easter, including more than 10,000 adults. Similar stories are unfolding in the UK, Belgium, and Austria.
And here in Hong Kong, 2,470 adults were welcomed into the Church through baptism—evidence of the Spirit’s quiet but powerful movement in a city searching for peace, community, and meaning. This is the heart of our missionary calling: to bring the gospel of peace, mercy, and truth to all peoples.
In a world marked by conflict, confusion, and loneliness, the Church’s witness is needed more than ever. Young people are seeking coherence, clarity, and community. Many new believers have found their way to the Church through RCIA groups, quiet conversations, and authentic encounters with faith-filled communities. Despite her flaws, the Church offers something the world cannot: the living Christ, present in the sacraments, in Scripture, and in the communion of believers.
Pope Leo XIV has emphasised the renewal of the Church through apostolic zeal and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In a recent address to the Pontifical Mission Societies, he highlighted the importance of missionary responsibility among all baptised Christians and the need for the Church to be a missionary Church that opens its arms to the world. He stressed that the Church must bring the Gospel’s message of true and lasting peace to all peoples, especially in a world wounded by war, violence, and injustice
Pentecost is not merely the end of Easter; it is the commissioning of the Church to go forth in mission. It is the moment when timid followers became bold proclaimers of the Gospel. Today, as these young confirmands receive the Spirit, we are reminded that the Church’s vitality lies not in institutional strength, but in Spirit-filled witness. We are a people of mercy, of mission, of new beginnings.
Let us not treat Confirmation or Baptism as ceremonial conclusions. They are the beginning of a lifelong journey. Parishes, families, and communities must walk with these new Christians—young and old—as they grow in faith and service. The Church is not in decline. It is being reborn—again and again—through the fire of the Holy Spirit. jose, CMF
